Category: motherhood

I am thrilled to introduce you to Marissa Kellner, a sweet friend of mine who I met on Instagram a year and a half ago while I was still pregnant with Izzy! Marissa is talented on so many levels: she is a home school mama, is a part-time nurse in the NICU/Maternity Unit, and runs her own business (The DellaRose Boutique) making felt wands and felt flower headbands for little girls. A couple of my favorite things about Marissa is her enthusiasm about being a mama maker, and her ability to balance it all. It’s something I admire! Today she is sharing her story about how she started her business, where her inspiration comes from, and how she balances her creative outlet with the many hats she wears.

One thing on your bucket list: “Well I have a ton, but one of them that I plan to do next year is hike a 14er (a.k.a. 14,000 ft. mountain) next year.”

Movie you wish you could live out: “Hands down, Pride and Prejudice! It’s my favorite love story and I’m a total Jane Austen girl. Her novels are my jam – I’ve read them all multiple times. Oh also, The Sound of Music because I just believe in singing randomly and if it was socially acceptable, I would live like I was in a musical.”

Are you a coffee or tea person: “Both! I’m a self-proclaimed coffee snob. I would rather have no coffee than bad coffee. But I also love hot tea on occasion.”

Thank you Marissa for being a part of our Real-Girls: Mothers community! Finding magic in the midst of motherhood + marriage is something we are all doing, together. Motherhood is not easy for every mama, and goodness knows it takes time to adjust into that new role!

PS: Make sure you scroll to the bottom of this post to find out how to enter our GIVEAWAY for a free felt hair bloom of your choice!

Turning 30 won’t happen until April 2019, but I actually am really looking forward to this new decade of my life. My 20s were full of crazy and fun adventures but also hold a lot of heartbreak and bittersweet memories. I spent 2/3 of my 20s getting my college degrees, dating the best and the worst types of guys, getting tattoos, making friendships and losing friendships, and worked a total of 9 different jobs (usually 2-3 jobs at a time). I also moved to a different state, bought my first car and ran her to the ground, bought a second car, moved back to California, got married, and had a baby. You guys, I have memories of riding the bus to middle school thinking that high school seemed so far away. And then again in high school, I couldn’t even imagine being in college…I thought 25 was “old” and all I wanted in the world was to get my belly button pierced. My how things have changed since then! It’s so weird to look back on those years and realize how much time and life has gone by. Continue reading →

I love planning parties and events! I DIY’d my entire wedding, styled/planned my own bridal shower and baby shower themes, and have hosted several parties like Christmas Cookie Exchanges and Girls’ Nights. So you better believe I couldn’t wait to plan a fun first birthday party for my daughter! The theme I went with was “A Swan Soiree” with touches of light pink, yellow, and mint. I had a plan on how I wanted her party to look, but I also wanted to make sure we stayed within a budget for decor and food.

So if you’re wanting to throw together a fun and memorable birthday party for your own little one, follow these helpful tips below for a thoughtful and well executed birthday bash.

Make sure you scroll to the bottom of this post because I linked almost all of the party decor and Izzy’s cute outfit + accessories! ❤

Well friends, I made it!! From July 7th 2017 to July 7th 2018 I nursed my little Izzy June every single day multiple times a day, and even pushed through painful teething so I would be able to make it to the one full year mark of breastfeeding!!

The week after her first birthday, we decided to introduce cow’s milk (we are using Fairlife Whole Milk) and wean her from nursing. She’s still getting used to cow’s milk, but overall I think she’s enjoying the new taste. I’m down to nursing her once a day in the mornings now, which I don’t think I would have been able to accomplish so smoothly had John not had the last two weeks off of work! He’s taken charge of putting her down for naps, so that I don’t have to nurse her to sleep like we’ve been doing up until this point. So far, it’s really working out for us! I also feel so blessed and grateful for the countless mama friends who have reached out to me and given me advice and encouragement and support about weaning. It’s been so helpful in easing my emotions and my heart into knowing that weaning is a natural part of growing up ❤ So thank you, if you were one of the mamas who I’m talking about!

This week’s feature is from Amanda Pruett, a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. Amanda was diagnosed with a rare condition in the early weeks of her first pregnancy, called a bicornuate uterus. She will be sharing her story of pregnancy and conceiving with this condition, and how it has shaped her journey into motherhood. Amanda spends her days enjoying little moments with her family such as splashing in the pool with her boys and playing with her chocolate lab Emmy when she is not at her full time day job. Amanda also has a creative side, and enjoys crafting for her business Simply Sweet Designs. You can find her watching movies with her husband, cutting/staining/making custom signs in her garage, or baking in the kitchen when she isn’t wrangling her two littles, Ryker (age 2) and Rowan (age 1).

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Hello & Welcome!

I'm Becca, a Marriage + Motherhood lifestyle blogger who loves Jesus, living colorfully, and being in the kitchen. The Mini Apartment Blog exists to inspire and encourage women who are entering the seasons of Marriage + Motherhood to live vibrantly, stay happy, and stay sane, as we all learn how to find magic in everyday moments.

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